Offset printing device



22, 1950 J. MCK. BALLOU ETAL 2,519,335

OFFSET PRINTING DEVICE Filed Aug. 26, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTORNE Y22, 1950 J. M K. BALLOU EIAL 2,519,

OFFSET PRINTING DEVICE v Filed Aug. 26, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 28 a4 82 oa 16 Patented Aug. 22, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE liung, LosAngeles, Calif., assigrior's to Kirk Rich Dial Corps, 'Los Angeles,Calif a cor-petation of California Application August '26, 1946, SerialNo. 693,088

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to offset printing and deals more particularlywith a machine 'for print= ing'watch dials and the-like.

The primary Object of the present invention is to provide a simplerelatively inexpensive 'yet accurate machine for printin the faces ofwatch dials either in their entirety or to add thereon imprints "such asnames, trade marks and other indicia.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means forregistering the onset printing positions of both a printing plate-and adial for receiving an imprint therefrom whereby an ac curate printingoperation is quickly and easily performed.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel mounting and holdingmeans for the'printing plate and the Watch dial and to embody effectivemeans whereby said plate and dial are accurately relatively registeredby adjusting said means for accurate printing of the latter by transferof ink from the former.

A further objectof the invention is to 'pro vide a novel support for thedial and a similar support for the printing plate and to provide meansfor adjusting said supports from approx-- im'ate to accuratelyregistered relative positions.

A further object of the invention is to rovide a Watch dial printer asindicated embodying a horizontally and angularlyadjustable bed whichmounts the printing plate and dial and further includes a verticallyrecipr'ocative tympan for effecting transfer of ink from the printingplate to the dial.

A still further object of the invention is to provide detent means forthe mentioned bed releas'able upon reverse manual movementof the meansemployed forope'ratively moving the tympan.

Our invention also has for its objects to'provide such means that arepositive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a workingposition and easily disconnected therefrom, eco nomical of manufacture,relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novelcombinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear 'inthe course of the following description. However, the drawings merelyhow and thefollowing description merely describes one embodiment of thepresent invention, which is given by I way of illustration or exampleonly.

In the drawings, like reference characters designate similar parts inthe several views.

2 Fig. 1 is a top plan view or a watch dial rinter according to thepresent invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical 'sectional'view as 'takenon thejlin'e 2:2 ofFig. 1. V

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the upper portion ofthe printer.

"Fig. 4 is a plan sectional view-astaken onii'ne 4=-=4 of Fig. 2, the"horizontally sWihgable-b'd being shown in another position.

Fi 5 is a tr kensectienai view as takn'ofi;

line 5 5 ofFig. 1. g 4

Fig. 6 is a similar sectional view-taken through the'center Of th'dialmounting means shown ill Fi 5.

Fig. 7 isa broken plan view as when ("iii-line "Fig. 8 is a broken planview "of the printing late mounting mean I Fig. 9 is a side viewthereof.

Fig. 10 is all enlarged clo'ss 's'eo'tidhal view as taken on line l0=-=l0 of Fig. '5.

Fig. 1 1 is a fragmentary and enlarged vertical sectional detail View bfthe printing plate filbllflll' ing' means.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged broken sectional viewas taken onl'ir e l2--|'2o'f1iig. 3, p w y W The machine which is illustrated is intendedprimarily as a watch dial "printer although rintingor other articles maye accomplished thereby. In its resent form, the printer corn prises,generally, a base it, a standard ost is mounted vertically thereon, ahorizontally and radially adjustable bed I? adjacent to the base [5,anti-friction means is mounting said heater movement n the pest it,printing plate mount -j ing means i9 and watch dial mounting means 20 onthe bed :1, a head 2| carried by'th'e' per end of the post it,vertically reei roeativei means '22 carried by the head for movementtoposition, means 26 coupled with the handlemeans 24 for releasingthe-detent ineahs 25; a

guide member 27 for said means 25,- and a Vertically adjustable reticlemeans 2a carried by the member 2"! and associated, se1e'ctive1y',-with'the means 19 and 20 to provide Visual aid iii accurately positioning thprinting plate 1? and watch dial D mounted on said means lfi 'an'd'ifinrespectively.

The base 15 is a generally rectangular piste 29 formed with a boss-Miorreceiving the lower-- a 3 reduced end 3| of the standard p'ost I6 andwith suitably disposed bosses 32 whereby the base may be secured on asupport.

The means I8 is mounted on said reduced end 3| of the post I6 andcomprises a pair of antifriction bearings 33, one against the boss 30 ofthe base and one against the shoulder 34 formed by the reduced end 3|. Aspacer 35 is provided between the bearings 33, and a nut 36, on theunder side of the base, serves to lock the post rigidly on the base bydrawing the shoulder 34 down on the upper portion of the bearings 33.The inner races of the bearings 33 are thus held against rotation,leaving the outer races free to revolve. The bed I1 is mounted on saidouter races and thus may be horizontally moved about the post I6.

The bed I1 is formed as a casting of generally triangular form. Said bedhas a boss 31 at one apex for the bearings 33, a circula opening 38 atanother apex, and a generally oval opening 39 at the third apex. Theopenings 38 and 39 are of such size as to permit relative adjustment ofthe respective mounting means I9 and 29 with the center of the post I 6and with each other.

The means I9 comprises a block 49 on the bed, a stem 4| on the blockextending through the oval opening 39, and a plate 42 fixed on the stemby a nut 43 and against the under face of the bed. The stem 4| is ofsuch length with relation to the thickness of the bed as to permitmovement of the block 49 along the upper face of the bed as limited bythe opening 39. A pair of spring-urged pins 44, carried by the bed, arearranged to press downward on the upper face of plate 42 and therebycreate a friction between the block 49 and bed ll of sufficientmagnitude to fix the block against movement. A fork 45, having its tines4B apertured for the pins 44, is bent to provide a fulcrum 41 which actson a plate 48 that is fixed to and forms part of the bed. Said fork isprovided with a handle 49 extending through a radial slot 59 in saidbed. The plate 48 is formed with a similar projecting handle By graspingthe handles 49 and 5| and depressing the former, the fork 45 is tiltedon its fulcrum 41 to cause lifting of the pins 44. Since the mentionedfriction between the block 49 and bed I1 is now eased, the block may bereadily shifted as limited by the opening 39. Upon release of thehandles 49 and 5|, the mentioned friction becomes effective to lock theblock 40 in adjusted position. Suitable undercut pins 9| are provided onthe upper face of block 49 to locate plate P thereon. A spring-tensionedlever 92, pivoted on the block, is so associated with said pins that thesame engages an edge of plate P to press said plate into firm engagementwith the pins.

The means is substantially similar to the means I9, and the partsthereof, therefore being given similar reference numbers. The onlydifferences in the structures are the openings 39 and 3B and the blocks40 and 52 for the means I9 and 29, respectively.

The block 49 is designed to receive and hold the printing plate P whichis generally larger than a Watch dial and frequently bears severalintaglio engravings for selective use. Accordingly, the oval opening 39permits of a greater range of adjustment of block 49, so that a selectedengraving may be properly placed in registered position. The block 52 isgenerally cup-shaped and is filled with a quantity of beeswax 53 in 4which a watch dial D is adapted to be embedded as best seen in Figs. 4and 5.

The head 2| comprises a casting 54 mounted by clamp bolts 55 on theupper portion of the standard post I6. The casting extends radially andmay be locked in any desired position with respect to the base I5. Theouter end of the head carries a spaced pair of rollers 56 whichpreferably are anti-friction bearings arranged to guide the verticalmovement of the reciprocative means 22. The latter means consists of abar 51 formed with longitudinal grooves 58 in which the rollers 56 areengaged. Mounted in this manner, the bar 51 is movable, with a minimumlateral play, toward and from the bed H. A bottom plate 59 on the barforms a stop to limit the upward movement thereof and a top plate 60serves to limit the downward movement of said bar with respect to thehead 2 I. A tension spring 6| normally holds the bar 51 in elevatedposition with the stop 59 against the lower face of the head. The tympan23 extends downwardly from the bar 5! and comprises a gelatinous masscapable of receiving ink from the intaglio engravings in the plate P andimprinting the same on the dial D.

The handle means 24 comprises a handle 62 on a bail or yoke 63 mountedon pivot screws 64 in the head 2i, a pair of links 65, a pivotalconnecting screw 66 in plate 60 for the upper end of each link, and aconnecting screw 61 in the handle ball 63 for the lower end of eachlink. Depressing of the handle 62 will cause the same to pull on thelinks 65 and the latter will depress the bar 5! against the pull of thespring 6|. Release of the handle will cause the spring 6| to beeffective for raising the bar.

The detent means 25 comprises a rod 68 which projects into a clearanceseat 69 in the head 2|, a collar I0 on said rod which serves to confinea compression spring II in said seat, and selective seats I2, I3 and I4formed in the upper surface of the bed I! and receptive of the lower endof said rod.

The means 26 consists of a forked arm 15 engaged about the rod 68 andpositioned beneath the collar ID, a pivot I6 for said arm on the head2|, a transverse bar 11 on the handle bail 63 engaged with anintermediate portion of the arm I5, and a slot I8 in the lower end ofeach link 65 through which the screws 6! extend. The spring II normallydepresses the rod 68 into that seat 72, I3 or I4 which is in registertherewith. Whereas, a downward movement of the handle 62, causes adownward movement of the bar 51 and of the tympan 23, an upward movementof said handle will cause the bar 11 to tilt the arm I5 on its pivot,engage the collar I0, and thereby lift the rod 68 against the force ofspring II. The slots I8 in links 65 permit this upward movement of thehandle to effect freeing of the bed I! from engagement by the detent bar68, so that said bed can be swung on the bearing means I8. The handle 62can be released after a short swinging movement of the bed. The springII will now be effective to press the rod into the seat I2, I3 or 74next brought into register by continued swinging movement of the bed.

The guide member 21 comprises a casting clamped on post I6 and formedwith a guide opening I9 for the lower end of rod 68 to steady the same.The member 21 is, of course, oriented radially with the head 2|.

The reticle means 28 is preferably carried by the member 21 to projectradially outward of the atlases;

51 post 16. The :means 28 comprises an :arm :80- ;formedat its outer endwith a frame M :for. optical means 82andwith a bracket 83 for engagementwith the member .27. As shown, means82 comprises vertically spacedlenses 84 and .85, the .lower of whichis provided withsuitable .crosshairs or markings in the form of :a reticle 86 aiding the positionalregistering of the means Hand 26. The arm 80-may be-fixedly mountedonasshown, means may be provided for vertically adjusting said arm to "bringthe lenses 84 and 35 to a desiredoptical spacingjfrom either plate P ordial D. Accordingly, the bracket 83 is formed with vertically disposedslots 81 for bolts or screws 88 securing the. armBDto the memberZl.However,

instead of the bolts directly clamping the arm in place, one or moresprings 89 extending between pairs of screws 88 pass through holes 90 insaid arm and bear against a wall .of each hole to effect a frictionalengagement between the springs Y89 and the armBll. The arm 80 is therebyadapted to be variably .vertically positioned as desired.

In operation:

The printing plate P is placed on the block 40, engaged with theundercut pins 9!, and held thereagainst by spring-tensioned clamp lever92 carried by block 4%]. The dial D to be printed is pressed into placein the beeswax 53 of the block 52. The handle 52 is lifted to withdrawthe rod 68 from detent engagement with the bed I! and said bed is swungto bring the printing plate beneath the reticle means 28 as in Fig. 4. Aselected engraving on the plate P is oriented with the reticle 85 byreleasing the friction between block 4|] and bed I! and moving the blockaccordingly. The mentioned friction is then reestablished. The sameoperation of orientation is carried out for the dial D by first swingingthe bed to bring block 52 beneath the reticle and then moving the blockto orient the dial with the reticle. Next, the printing plate is inkedand excess ink removed from the surface of said plate. If the dial D tobe imprinted has a lacquered surface, the tympan 23 is powdered withtalc or French chalk to prevent sticking of the dial to the tympan. Thebed is then again swung to register the printing plate, with the tympan,and the latter, by depressing the handle 62, is pressed against theinked printing plate to receive the ink from the engraving. The tympanis raised, the bed is swung to bring the dial D into register therewith,and the tympan is then again depressed to impress on the dial theimprint which it received from the printing plate.

When rod 68 is engaged in seat '14 as in Fig. 4, the reticle means andthe printing plate are in register. When said rod is engaged in seat 13,the reticle means is in register with the dial and the tympan is inregister with the printing plate. When said rod is in seat 12, thetympan is in register with the dial. The bed ll, therefore, has threepositions; two for effecting orientation of the printing plate and dialby means of the reticle; one of said positions being used for effectinga transfer of ink from the printing plate to the tympan; and a third forregistering the tympan and dial for imprinting the latter.

While we have illustrated and described what we now regard as thepreferred embodiment of our invention, the construction is, of course,subject to modifications without departing from the spirit and scope ofour invention. We, therefore, do not wish to restrict ourselves to theparticular form of construction illustrated and described, but desire toavail ourselves of :all modifications that may :fall within the scope:of the appendedaclaims.

Having thus described our'invention, what we claim and desire .to secureby Letters Patent .is:

1. .An offset printer comprising atfixed support, an adjustablymovable-bed .on the support, a tympan carried by the support and movabletoward and from :the bed, spring means lfOT normally holding the tympan:away from the bed, manual handle means for moving said'tympan.

toward the bed, .:a printing plate holder and .a watch dial holder eachindividually and .relativelyadjustably carried by the i:bed,.and.=detentmeans forhol'ding the bed in "adjustedposition,

said detent means comprising a spring tpresse'd' rod;carrie,d by :thesupport and extending toward the bed, and selectiveseats in the bed for're-' ceiving one end of said rod, and :means coupled with thehandlemeans and engaged with'the rod.

for moving said rod away from saidseats upon movement of thehandlemeansinza direction 011- posite'to its movementwhenmoving'thestympan toward the bed.

2. Inxan oifsetzprinter aiswingablebedhaving a plurality of seats, asupport frame for the bed, a spring-urged detent rod carried by theframe and movable toward the bed for selective engagement in said seats,a tympan above the bed, handle means connected to the tympan and movablein one direction for moving said tympan toward the bed, and on operativeconnection between the handle means and the rod for moving the latter ina direction away from the seats upon movement of the handle means andthe tympan away from the bed.

3. In an offset printer, a support frame, reticle means carried by saidframe, a bed carried by the frame and movable relative thereto, at leasttwo adjustable late holders on said bed, and manually releasable meansfor frictionally holding the plate holders in adjusted position on thebed with respect to the reticle means.

4. In an offset printer, a movable member having an openingtherethrough, a plate holder on the member and havin a stem extendingthrough the opening and movable laterally within the limits of saidopening, a plate against the under face of said member and fixed to thestem, and spring-urged means carried by the member and exerting apressure on the mentioned plate, and thereby creating a frictional forcebetween the plate holder and the member.

5. In an offset printer, a movable member having an openingtherethrough, a plate holder on the member and having a stem extendingthrough the opening and movable laterally within the limits of saidopening, a plate against the under face of said member and fixed to thestem, spring-urged means carried by the member and exerting a pressureon the mentioned plate and thereby creating a frictional force betweenthe plate holder and the member, and a manual lever engaged with saidpins for lifting the same and thereby releasing the mentioned frictionalforce.

6. An offset printer comprising a support, a bed swingably mounted onsaid support and having three seats therein, a first plate holderadjustably carried by the bed in general radial alignment with one ofsaid seats, a. second plate holder similarly carried by the bed ingeneral alignment with another of said seats, optical means including areticle fixedly carried by the frame and adapted to guide the manualadjustment of the plates on the bed and relative to each other, a tympancarried by the frame above the bed, handle means carried by the frameand engaged with the tympan to move the latter for impress engagementwith plates on said holders, and detent means including a rod connectedto the handle means and movable together with the tympan into selectiveengagement in said seats to selectively and operatively align theoptical means and the plate holders and the tympan and the plateholders.

7. An ofiset printer comprising a support, a bed swingably mounted onsaid support and having three seats therein, a first plate holderadjustably carried by the bed in general radial alignment with one ofsaid seats, a second plate holder similarly carried by the bed ingeneral alignment with another of said seats, optical means including areticle fixedly carried by the frame and adapted to guide the manualadjustment of the plates on the bed and relative to each other, a tympancarried by the frame above the bed, handle means carried b the frame andengaged with the tympan to move the latter for impress engagement withplates on said holders,

8 detentmeans including a rod connected to the handle means and movabletogether with the tympan into selective engagement in said seats toselectively and operatively align the optical means and the plate holderand the tympan and the plate holders, and spring means effective uponmanual release of the handl for moving the tympan away from the bed andsubsequently withdrawing the rod from the seat in which it is engaged.

JOHN McK. BALLOU.

OSCAR C. FILLIUNG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,302,920 Hatt May 6, 19191,599,917 OHara Sept. 14, 1926 1,655,427 Lund Jan. 10, 1928 1,737,925Gydesen Dec. 3, 1929 1,779,091 Glass Oct. 21, 1930 2,148,563 KingsleyFeb. 28, 1939

